Chapter 12
Samuel addresses the nation. He asks if he has defrauded anyone, that he might make it right. None come forward.
Samuel reminds them of how they cried out in Egypt and God delivered them, and how each time they rebelled, and were taken captive, they cried out again and promised to serve God and not Baal and the Ashtaroths, and each time he delivered them. He, God, delivered them by raising up a judge appropriate to the task, and they lived in peace. Then Nahash, King of the Ammorites came up, and they didn't want God to deliver them, they asked instead for a king. This verse:
12 And when you saw that Nahash the king of the Ammonites came against you, you said to me, 'No, but a king shall reign over us,' when the LORD your God was your king. [1Sa 12:12 ESV]
Here is the reason God doesn't like Kings over His people. It is because He is King, and having a king of our own is a direct rejection of the kingship of God.
14 If you will fear the LORD and serve him and obey his voice and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, and if both you and the king who reigns over you will follow the LORD your God, it will be well. 15 But if you will not obey the voice of the LORD, but rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then the hand of the LORD will be against you and your king. [1Sa 12:14-15 ESV]
This appears to be a new conditional covenant between God, Israel and her King. Not only do the people have to follow God, but the King does also. If either one or both disobey, God will be against both. So even though they have rejected God's way, he has relented and given them a king - a new relationship has formed - God will still take care of them, as long as they remain faithful to him.
2024 - This also implies that Israel is not really becoming a monarchy. They have a king, as they demanded, and they must all serve the king. Even so, both people and king must still serve God, as before, or the same kinds of things Samuel has just outlined will continue to happen. They will still be oppressed by foreign rulers, as punishment, until they realize their error and turn back to God, both they and their king. Israel is still a theocracy, and it is still the judges and the priesthood that are in charge, even though they have a king.
2024 - And look at the US today. On one side we have a pro-abortion president who calls himself a Catholic in good standing. That is, one who claims to be following God's commands but obviously isn't. On the other side we have an unrepentant, openly serial adulterer who is overflowing with arrogance and pride and threats who is also not following God's commands. That's who we have pitted against each other for the leadership of this country. Neither is worthy. Rather than taking sides to defend one or the other despite all the evidence that we should not, we ought to be on our knees praying for God to change the hearts of both the voters and the nominees, so that God's ways would be once again be ubiquitous in this nation. Short of that, I think the verse above - thought written to Israel - will apply in principal to us also. "...the LORD will be against you". Why would we expect anything else if we support either of these two men???
To double stitch this, Samuel calls down thunder and rain in the middle of wheat harvest, so that Israel will know how displeased God is with what the people have insisted on. Rain during harvest was a bad thing.
Here is how Samuel precedes the sign of the rain:
17 Is it not wheat harvest today? I will call upon the LORD, that he may send thunder and rain. And you shall know and see that your wickedness is great, which you have done in the sight of the LORD, in asking for yourselves a king." [1Sa 12:17 ESV]
God is giving them what they want, but what they want is wickedness, and offensive to God, and the consequences of their wickedness start now, with rain during wheat harvest. This is only the beginning of where their rejection of God as King will take them.
The people, perhaps finally realizing how wrong they are, are afraid. They ask Samuel to pray for them. Samuel says this:
20 And Samuel said to the people, "Do not be afraid; you have done all this evil. Yet do not turn aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart. [1Sa 12:20 ESV]
Here is the formula for repentance when we sin. We keep serving the Lord, we rededicate and recommit. Good FB post.
2022 - So...Israel has been united under Saul as King. Clearly, from Chapter 11, the Lord has had a hand in this, turning hearts to Saul so the people would follow him and then giving him a great victory over Nahash, King of Ammon. All these things would be perceived as confirmation of Saul as King, as endorsement if you will of Saul as King. So do we celebrate the new King, the victory, and a united nation? No! We get rain on the wheat harvest! So what is the lesson? God forgives, but there may be severe consequences? No matter how badly we mess up, if we turn back to God...we get vs 22 below? God forgives for his own sake, to maintain his own greatness, to make sure that promises he has made come to pass, no matter how big a mess we make of His plans? This seems pretty complex. I suspect there is a lot more here than I am seeing.
Samuel also tells them that they are God's people, despite their evil ways. But they must be faithful to him.
22 For the LORD will not forsake his people, for his great name's sake, because it has pleased the LORD to make you a people for himself. [1Sa 12:22 ESV]
Oh my! Look at this verse!!!!
23 Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you, and I will instruct you in the good and the right way. [1Sa 12:23 ESV]
It is a sin to stop praying for sinners! It is a sin to stop praying for those we disagree with! It is a sin to stop praying for those who support the other political party, the other form of government, and so on! It is sin to do otherwise! Great FB post!!!!
God knows what the best form of government is, and it doesn't involve kings, but as long as His people are faithful, they can have any government they want. It'll be less than optimum, but God will let them have it if it is what they want. After all, they are His children.
2022 - And this one last verse:
25 But if you still do wickedly, you shall be swept away, both you and your king." [1Sa 12:25 ESV]
God has no get out of jail free card. He has forgiven you of a very great transgression - asking for a King, who will oppress you as all Kings oppress their people. He forgave because He has prior promises to fulfill. But forgiveness this time does not mean that He will always forgive. If you go completely wicked, God will be justified in wiping you out and starting over.
We must always strive to do what is right if we want to continue to be forgiven. If the people are wicked, both the people and their King will be swept away. If the King is wicked, both the King and the people will be swept away. We see both these principles in the OT.